Index investing often means two things… BORING AND CUMBERSOME! Too often though the psychological portion of investing takes over. Everyone knows that this is about the worst possible thing but unfortunately that doesn’t change anyone’s decisions. People want the action, to see the stock on CNBC blow out the 52 week high, and to just be part of the next big thing.

So when people think of index investing these thoughts normally don’t come to mind. Let’s face it though index investing off the March Low’s of 2009 would have brought over a 60% return! Not bad in less than a year’s time. Further, here at Clariti Research we understand the love for excitement because that’s what building the EMPIRE is all about! We want the thrill of glory, the joy conquest, and the growth of personal dreams. By the end of this article we hope to help make index investing more fun, profitable, and realistic while helping you avoid the pitfalls put out by Wall Street.

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Your retirement income investment plan starts now, right now, no matter how old or well heeled you happen to be.

Step One is to understand what a retirement plan is, and to identify the three large numbers you need to keep track of while you are developing your stash. With these three totals on your spreadsheet, it’s much easier to develop long-range retirement income goals that make personal sense. A retirement plan is an income production plan. Guaranteed retirement income - projected expenses = the gap. No gap, add parents and children to the expense number. There’s always a gap.

Employer provided pension plans, Social Security, and (always much too expensive) fixed annuity contracts, are retirement income providers. They are monthly income machines that you have paid dearly for but which may not be adequate to cover your retirement expenses— most of us will need more income than our guaranteed benefits will provide.

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